Maybe it'll open up jobs there that no American wants to do, e.g., washing and waxing the Spirit robot explorer.
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them
If you did . . . .
- E. John & B. Taupin
Let's send Sheila Jackson Lee !!
Space Technology Affects the Lives of Every American
Space Technology Affects the Lives of Every American
More than 1,300 NASA and other U.S. space technologies have contributed to U.S. industry, improving our quality of life and helping save lives.
• Image processing used in CAT Scanners and MRI technology in hospitals worldwide came from technology developed to computer-enhanced pictures of the Moon for the Apollo programs.
• Kidney dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASA-developed chemical process, and insulin pumps were based on technology used on the Mars Viking spacecraft.
• Programmable Heart Pacemakers were first developed in the 1970s using NASA satellite electrical systems.
• Fetal heart monitors were developed from technology originally used to measure airflow over aircraft wings.
• Surgical probes used to treat brain tumors in children resulted from special lighting technology developed for plant growth experiments on Space Shuttle missions.
• Infrared hand-held cameras used to observe blazing plumes from the Shuttle have helped firefighters point out hot spots in brush fires.
• Satellite communications allow news organizations to provide live, on-the-spot broadcasting from anywhere in the world; families and businesses to stay in touch using cell phone networks; and the simple pleasures of satellite TV and radio, and the convenience of ATM's across the country and around the world.